Letter: Pay attention

Marguerite LoganSt. Augustine

Published Monday, June 07, 2004

Editor: It was with great dismay that I read your May 20 front-page article titled, "Crash injures motorcyclist on U.S. 1." This is not the first time that, or similar, headlines have graced your front page.

What dismayed me was the quote by the first witness, who said, "The driver said he never saw him (the motorcyclist)."

The second witness stated, "All I saw was a white car in a hurry plow into the bike."

Even the driver of the car stated "I have no idea where he (the motorcyclist) came from."

How is it that the driver never saw the motorcyclist? Time after time we hear of crashes similar to this.

Motorcyclists are a large part of the economy of St. Augustine, as well as our family members and neighbors.

They have every right to be on the road. They have every right to expect to be seen.

They have every right to leave for work on their motorcycle, get to and from work safely, and arrive home in one piece.

What is it going to take for car drivers to understand that they are sharing the road?

Not just with motorcyclists, but with cars and trucks as well. Unfortunately, it is more deadly for motorcyclists.

... Would the driver of the car have been better able to see the motorcyclist had the motorcyclist had a helmet on?

Wake up St. Augustine and surrounding areas.

Pay attention!

People of all ages are riding motorcycles and whether they choose to put on a helmet or not -- that is their choice, by law.

That choice cannot overcome actions such as described in the article mentioned above.